CT SB00439

Establishes eligibility for wrongful incarceration compensation for individuals whose conviction was vacated or reversed and whose complaint was dismissed on grounds of innocence or grounds consistent with innocence, or due to state official malfeasance or serious misconduct.

Compensation amount is two hundred percent of median family income for each year of incarceration, adjusted for inflation, with the Claims Commissioner able to adjust by up to twenty-five percent based on relevant factors including age, education, familial relationships, crime severity, and sex offender registration requirements.

Compensation awards exceeding thirty-five thousand dollars or those requested for General Assembly review must be submitted to the General Assembly, which has forty-five days to deny, confirm, modify, or remand the claim; if no action is taken, the Claims Commissioner's determination is deemed confirmed.

Additionally authorizes the Claims Commissioner to order payment for employment training, counseling, and tuition at state higher education institutions.

Requires claimants to sign a release relinquishing any other legal action against the state for the same wrongful conviction; allows compensation to deceased claimants' estates if the claim was pending before the Claims Commissioner at death.